With
ECW coming from Philadelphia tonight, something inside says we may be in for a treat.

Looks like I was right.

I assumed this week's show would feature another Kelly's Expose interrupted by Mike Knox, a Sandman beat down and an ECW title match. Well, we got all three and more.

Paul Heyman opens the show hyping ECW champion Rob Van Dam and how his schedule the past week has been that of a fighting champion. He is then cut off by the Big Show who demands a title shot tonight. Heyman looks frightened.

ECW is starting to resemble Raw as we're 10 minutes in and still no match. It's time for Kelly's Expose and her salute to America, being the U.S. Independence Day and all. As usual, just as it gets good, Knox intervenes and escorts his girlfriend to the back.

Match # 1 -- Mike Knox vs. Little Guido

Guido attacks from behind while Knox rants to the crowd about Kelly. "You Can't Wrestle" and "You Suck (nickname for guys named Richard)" chants ring out from the Wachovia Center and then a "Boring" chant after Knox bodyslams Guido four times. After a big boot, Knox's downward spiral spike move ends it.

Winner via pinfall: Mike Knox

A Monday Night Raw recap is shown with RVD dropping the WWE title to Edge. Being that Van Dam reportedly was arrested Sunday night with drugs in his possession, is his "punishment"
dropping both the WWE and ECW straps on consecutive nights? Stay tuned.

RVD confronts Heyman in the back and says he wants the match with Show and if Heyman doesn't make the match, he'll go and accept the match face-to-face with the former Giant. Heyman is still reluctant, but RVD assures Heyman saying, "I got this." Hmmm ...

Another Test promo airs hyping his ECW debut tonight.

A priest jumps out of the crowd in front of Tazz and Joey Styles, grabs the mic and rambles on about how ECW is filth, it shouldn't be on TV and that we should all be ashamed. And if we're
not ashamed, we're all sinners and we'll burn in Hell. He then rips off his cardboard collar and says he's not a man of the cloth, but uses that to get his point across.

The Sandman's music hits and I feel a caning forthcoming. Sandman brings the priest dude over the barrier and canes him repeatedly. After knocking him into the crowd, Styles says it's a shame the Philadelphia Phillies play in the National League because Sandman could be their DH. Good stuff.

In the back, RVD finds Show, slaps him across the face and accepts his challenge. Show smiles.

Yes, it's promo time
once again and the new ECW book, The Rise & Fall of ECW gets some serious air time. [Editor's Note: SLAM! Wrestling reviewed it yesterday: Debating the dueling ECW books]

It's 10:30 p.m. Shouldn't we have had another match by now? Oh yeah, I forgot, Vince McMahon is assuming more control over ECW these days. Wonderful (said with sarcastic undertones).

Nope, no match yet. RVD and Heyman again meet in the back. Heyman says the match is booked and it's Extreme Rules. Van Dam likes the idea.

Match #2 -- Test vs. Al Snow

Test dominates in less than two minutes. After another "You Can't Wrestle" chant, Test ends the match with a fireman's carry spin into a RKO-esque neckbreaker. The crowd didn't particularly take to Stephanie McMahon's "ex-fiance," but I like his finisher. It's different and Snow sold well. With Snow still down, Test grabbed Head and punted it into the crowd.

Winner via pinfall: Test

A short Sabu promo is then shown. Guess he's still employed, too, eh?

After a Great American Bash preview announcing Batista will face Mark Henry (isn't his 10-year-deal up YET?), the ECW vampire is outside the
arena and spits a red substance at the camera.

Being that it's also an unannounced night of promos, C.M. Punk then gives one and pats himself on the back about how he doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs. He's just C.M. Punk. He neglects to inform the viewers, however, that he was also one of John Cena's gangsters at WrestleMania 22.

Match #3 -- Extreme Rules - ECW Champion Rob Van Dam vs. The Big Show

The two feel each other out early before a headbutt sends Van Dam to the floor. A brawl ensues in the first row of fans before yet another "You
Can't Wrestle" chant engulfs the arena that appears to not be very full. No far-away shots are shown of the arena and you probably have a good idea why.

After a commercial break with both wrestlers on the floor, Show nails a superplex on Van Dam as the crowd comes alive with a "Marra-WANNA" cheer. Van Dam counters a choke slam into a DDT and then Rolling Thunder connects. Show catches RVD off the top rope as Van Dam went for a kick and pitches him to the outside. Show then ended up on the floor and Van Dam leapt from the top to the outside, but was again caught in mid-air.

Back in the ring, Van Dam has a chair, but Show swats it away and a choke slam gets a two-count before he puts referee Mike Posey
in the Dragon Sleeper and flings him aside. Van Dam counters a power bomb with a chair shot and then hits a sweet Van Daminator.

RVD goes up and hits the Five Star Frog Splash, but there's no ref. Heyman runs down and counts to two before stopping and showing off an evil grin. Van Dam is livid and the crowd starts the "You Sold Out" routine. RVD turns into a chair shot and then Heyman tells him to choke slam him on the chair. He does, and Heyman counts the pin making Big Show the first-ever WWE, WCW and ECW world champion.

Winner ... and NEW ECW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: The Big Show!

Garbage litters the ring as Heyman and Show pose with the belt. Tazz calls Heyman a "son of a bitch" and Van Dam isn't shown at all.

After Stephanie, Matt's wife, asked him what Kelly dancing in body paint had anything to do with wrestling and why pro wrestling was on Sci-Fi, she curled up next to Matt on the couch, only to fall asleep during the Mike Knox match. Matt almost did, too. In any event, email him at mackindermedia@yahoo.com if you know the name of the Snoop Dogg song Kelly dances to during her dance.